Can washing machine



Feb. 23, 1932. c. F. M EWAN ET AL 1,846,554

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1-3, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 x I fi l/139752 I Feb. 23, 1932. c. F. M EWAN ET AL 1,346,564

cm WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1932, F. MQEWA'N ET AL cm WASHING MACHINE Filed Dem-i3, 1 929 ssnma-she'et 3 Patented Feb. 23, 1932.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES F. MCEWAN AND WALTER H. PAULSOlN', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO HARRY D. LATHBDP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS can wasnma macnma Application filed December 18, 1929. Serial No. 413,704.

This invention relates to can washing machines, particularly of the type in which milk cans or milk cans and covers are supported upon and carried by a traveling conveyor with provision for successively subjecting the articles to washing and sterilizing operations. An object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character simple and durable in construction and efiicient in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character in which the cleansing solution, which in the specific embodiment is a soda solution, is con-@,

tained' in a tank and adapted to be pumped through discharging nozzles which spray upon the inside and outside of the cans, covers, or articles being cleaned, with a special diverting valve construction for diverting the soda solution back into the tank when :0 not being discharged through the spraying nozzles. This construction and arrangement has the effect of preventing back pressure upon the pump which-would otherwise increase wear upon thepump and load upon the driving power of the machine. The unique construction and operation also has the advantage of maintaining the soda solution in a constant state of agitation whereby a more uniform mixture or solution is obtainable.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine I with the enclosing hood and a portion of the carriage in vertical section to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on theline 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. .3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of. Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view,'partly in section, of the relief valve construction'adapted to alternately direct cleansing fluid through the discharging nozzles and divert the fluid upon shaft 18 is a sprocket 19 adapted to dive stantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of relief valve with a special adjustable frictional tightening attachment.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a stationary base structure having .a -transverse plate 11, upon which the operating mechanism is mounted, supported by a plurality of legs 12. The various brace and supporting members are preferably constituted of an le iron or similar construction to afford sufiicient strength and rigidity without undue weight or bulkiness. Disposed above the operatmg mechanism is a second transverse drain pan 13 provided with an outer upturned circular flange 14 which is in the form of a circular band arranged to rest upon and be supported by radially extending angle bars 14. j 7

Suitably mounted upon the base late/11 is a driving motor 17 which is preferabl rovided with an elongated drive shaft 18 fbr the purpose of performing a plurality of d iving operation, as presently described. Ke ed 30 sprocket chain 20 which in turn dr'ves sprocket 21 aflixed to shaft 22 of a reduc ion gearing assembly 23. Projecting do nwardly from assembly 23 is a driving shaft 24, adapted to rotate at a slower speed than shaft 22 because of the intermediate reduction gearing, and affixed to the lower extremity of shaft 24 is a drive pinion 25 arranged to mesh with drive gear 26 secured adjacent the lower extremity of a vertically extending drive shaft 27. Mounted adjacent the horizontal plate 13 is a stationary bearing plate 28, suitably'supported by a plura ity of vertically extending rods 29, and the upper portion of plate 28 has an integrally formed journal portion 30 adapted to afford a bearing for shaft 27. Secured to shaft 27 and supported for rotational move- .ing in the disk 32 for the purpose of maintaining the carriage in alignment and also to maintain uniform engagement between thedriving tively.

In the general operation of the machine, shaft 18 is adapted to drive a hot air blower or fan 35 which derives heated air from a radiator 36, and said shaft 18 also drives a pump 37 adapted to force a cleansing fluid under pressure through discharging nozzles.

and driven disks 31 and 32, respec- The cleansing fluid preferably employed is 54 a soda solution which is used over and over until replenishment is required, and is contained in a semi-cylindrical receptacle or tank 38 having a bottom 39, a curved outer side wall 40 and an inner transverse wall 41. Extending through wall 41 and having a fluid tight connection therewith by means of lock nuts 42 is a cleansing fluid supply pipe 43. The extremity of pipe 43 projecting within tank 38 is provided with a strainer 44 and the pipe then extends to pump 37 for the purpose of conveying cleansing fluid thereto. During the operation of pump 37, the cleansing fluid is forced through pipe 45 which is connected to a nozzle 46. At the point of connection with nozzle 46 a plurality of latterally extending pipes 47 are provided, each of which has connected to its outer extremity a vertical pipe as shown at 48 in Fig. 3, and each of these vertical pipes is provided with a plurality of perforations adapted to spray fluid upon the exterior of a can while cleansing fluid is sprayed upon the interior of a can by nozzle 46. Also a branch pipe 49 is connected to short erforated pipes 50 constructed and arranged to spray cleansing fluid upon a can cover. The carriage 34 is provided with a plurality of radial compartments, each adapted to accommodate a milk can in in verted position and a cover. These compartments are separated by partitions 51, and the cylindrical wall 52 has formed therein a plurality of vertical slots 53, as shown in Fig. 1, which successively register with the spray pipes disposed adjacent the center of the machine.

The motor 17 is adapted to operate continuously but the carriage 34 is successively stopped or arrested in its rotary motion for the purpose of subjecting the cans to the respective washing and drying operations. This stoppage of the carriage may be performed either manually or mechanically 21$ by a stop rod 54, shown in Fig. 3, normally maintained in the position shown by comprcssion spring 55. The lower peripheral edge of carriage 34 has a circular angle iron 56 to which is secured a plurality of equally spaced shoe members 57, each of which carries a downwardly projecting lug 58 and a second downwardly projecting lug 59 spaced a less distance radially from the center of the carriage than lug 58. During a traveling operation of the carriage, the disks 31 and 32 are in frictional engagement and travel in unison until a lug 58 contacts with the upper extremity of rod 54, which arrests movement of the carriage, and disk 31 slides upon disk 32. Rod 54 may be disengaged from a lug 58 to release the carriage and permit continued travel thereof either manually or automatically, as by a cam on the disk 31 arranged to operate a rocking member (not shown) which might be connected with rod Interposed in fluid supply pipe 45 between the pump 37 and the discharging nozzles is a diverting valve 60 having a rotatable stem 61' operable by a transverse arm provided with an opening portion 61 and a closing portion 62. As shown in Fig. 4, the valve core 63 is provided with a transverse port 64, and as shown in Fig. 5, port 64 connects with a lateral bore 65 leading to one side of the core 63. A groove 66 is formed adjacent the lower extremity of core 63, and a stop bolt 67 projects within the groove 66 for limiting the rotational movement of the valve core through a 90 angle. The valve is provided with a port 68 which communicates with a short pipe 69 having its opening disposed above the tank 38 for diverting cleansing fluid into the tank when the spraying nozzles are not operating. The mechanism is so constructed that when a lug 58 is in contact with rod 54 so as to cause an intermittent stoppage of the carriage, the lug 58 on the next advance shoe member 57 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby arm por tion 61 is swung to the left or in a counterclockwise direction. In this position the re- ;lief valve 60 is in theposition shown in Fig.

5 with transverse bore 64 in communication with the connected pipes 45, and the cleansing fluid is discharged through the various spraying nozzles above described. Upon release of the carriage to permit the continued travel thereof, lug 58 passes beyond arm portion 61 and the second lug 59 engages arm portion 62, causing stem 61 of valve 60 to be rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2. This operation has the effect of bringing port 65 of the valve core 63 in registry with the lower pipe 45 shown in Fig. 5, and port 64 is brought in communication with pipe 69 whereas communication with pipe 45, beyond valve 60, leading to the nozzles, is closed, and the cleansing fluid is thus diverted back into the tank. This operation is repeated upon each intermittent halting of the carriage, and continued operation of the pump is carried out without any back pressure. A modification of valve 60 shown in Fig. 7 is the same as far as internal construction is concerned, and a yoke member is adapted to engage pipe 45 upon each side of the valve and the intermediate cross portion 71 has an internally threaded boss 7 2 adapted to receive a threaded adjusting bolt 73, the inner end of which bears against the lower reduced extremity of core 63, upon which is threaded nut 7 4. Interposed between nut 74 and the valve casing is a washer 75, and thus it will be seen that by turning bolt 73 the frictional resistance of stem 61 may be increased or decreased as desired. In the complete operation of the machine, hot water is sprayed through nozzles 76 connected to pipe 77, and a steam sterilizing bath is sprayed through nozzle 78 connected to steam supply pipe 79, but the complete construction of these portions of the operating mechanism is not disclosed because not embodying the present invention. A description of the operation of the machine has been incorporated in the foregoing description of the construction.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a traveling car rier adapted to support articles to be subjected to a washing operation, a washing fluid containing receptacle, spraying mechanism for said fluid, a diverting valve adapted to alternately divert fluid to said spraying mechanism and into said receptacle,and a plurality of shoe members on said carrier, each of said shoe members provided with a lug for actuating said valve to cause the flow of fluid to said spraying mechanism and also provided with a second lug for actuating Sfiltil valve to divert said fluid to said receptac e. i

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a traveling carrier adapted to support articles to be sub jected to a washing operation, a washing fluid containing receptacle, spraying mechanism for said fluid, a diverting valve adapted to alternately divert fluid to said spraying mechanism and into said receptacle,

pump mechanism for forcing fluid from said receptacle, and means on said carrier for successively operating said valve to cause the flow of fluld to said spraying means and to operate said valve to divert the flow to said receptacle.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a traveling carrler adapted to support articles to be subected to a washing operation, a washing fluid containing receptacle, spraying mechanism for said fluid, a diverting valve adapted to alternately divert fluid to said spraying mechanism and into said receptacle, pump mechanism for forcing fluid from said receptacle, and means for successively operatmg said valve to cause the flow .of fluid to said spraying means and to operate said valve to divert the flow to said receptacle.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this s ecification.

C ARLES F. MoEWAN. WALTER H. PAULSON. 

